Sciatica

Sciatica, also known as sciatic nerve pain or lumbar radiculopathy, is a pain that stems from the compression and/or irritation of your sciatic nerve.

Your sciatic nerve is the main nerve in your leg and runs from your lower back to your feet. When your sciatic nerve is injured or is put under pressure, pain can radiate in your lower back and spread to your hip, buttocks, and travel down your leg.

Sciatica is caused by an underlying medical condition, such as:

• a slipped disc – happens when the soft disc cushion between your spinal bones pushes out. This is the most common cause of sciatica
• spinal stenosis – narrowing of part of your spine where the nerve passes
• spondylolisthesis – when a spinal bone slips out of position
• an injury to your back.

There are some things you can do to help relieve your sciatic pain and they may also help speed up your recovery. They include:

• trying to continue with your normal daily activities as much as possible
• doing gentle exercise as soon as possible
• keeping a good posture
• regularly do sciatica exercises and stretches to keep you fit and strengthen your core
• applying heat packs to areas that have pain
• try taking painkillers
• putting a small, firm cushion between your knees if you sleep on your side
• placing firm pillows under your knees when you lie on your back

You should avoid sitting or lying down for long periods of time and do not use hot water bottles as they could scald you if your skin is numb.

If you have sciatica, you may feel a severe burning or shooting pain, tingling, numbness and weakness in your bottom, the back of your leg and/or your foot and toes.

You may also feel pain in your back but to a lesser extent than the other areas. If you only have back pain, you probably don’t have sciatica.

You may find your symptoms are more severe when you move, cough or sneeze.

You should see your doctor to get a sciatica diagnosis.

How long sciatica lasts depends on the type and severity of its underlying problem. It usually gets better in four to six weeks, but some medical conditions can cause your sciatica symptoms to last up to two years.

The costs of sciatica treatment vary from patient to patient. They will depend on whether diagnostic tests are ordered, your underlying medical condition and its required treatment, and your Ramsay hospital of choice.

You will receive a formal quotation price for your sciatica treatment after your consultation with one of our neurology or orthopaedic specialists. This formal quote will be valid for 60 days.

The costs of your sciatica treatment are usually covered by medical insurance. We advise you get written confirmation from your insurance provider before your treatment commences.

If you are paying for yourself, we offer a variety of payment options including 0% monthly payment plans.

The recovery process after sciatica treatment will depend on your health and your exact treatment.

For example, you may have physiotherapy to help reduce your sciatica pain. You will not have any recovery following physiotherapy exercises.

If you have an epidural steroid injection to relieve your pain, you will usually be able to go home soon afterwards. You should rest at home for around 24 hours and arrange for someone to drive you home. It may take a few days to feel the effects of your injection. You should try to keep as active as you can.

You may require lumbar decompression surgery to treat your compressed sciatica nerve. This will involve staying in the hospital for up to four days after your surgery. You should be able to walk within a day but avoid more strenuous activities for six weeks. You can expect to return to work after four to six weeks unless your job involves heavy lifting or long periods of driving, when you may need more time off.